📖 Biblical Definition
Original sin is the doctrine that Adam’s first sin in Eden corrupted the entire human race — both legally and morally. The entire human race is born guilty (federally, through Adam’s representative headship over humanity) and corrupt (naturally, through inherited fallen nature). Romans 5:12-21 is the classic locus: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned... by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners". Psalm 51:5: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." The doctrine explains why babies die, why every child needs no instruction in selfishness, and why Christ’s substitutionary obedience as the Last Adam is the only remedy.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
ORIG'INAL, a.
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1. First in order; preceding all others. 2. Original sin — in theology, that depravity of our nature, descended from Adam, and which is supposed to be inherent in mankind in consequence of the apostasy of our first parents.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 5:12 — "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
Psalm 51:5 — "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Romans 3:23 — "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 15:22 — "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often treats sin as bad choices; Scripture says we sin because we are sinners.
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The doctrine of original sin makes most modern people angry. Why am I held responsible for what Adam did? Romans 5 answers structurally: Adam acted as the head of the human race, and his fall is inherited like federal citizenship. The same mechanism allows the second Adam, Christ, to act as the head of the redeemed and credit His righteousness to those united to Him. Without Adam's federal headship, you cannot have Christ's. The doctrine is the platform on which the gospel is built.
The doctrine also matches observation. No parent ever needed to teach a child to lie, grab, or whine; the child arrived pre-loaded. Modern child-development theory often pretends children are blank slates corrupted by environment. The Bible says they are sinners corrupted from the womb (Ps 51:5) and need a new birth, not just better parenting. Train them faithfully; pray for their conversion. Original sin is real, and so is the new birth.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
From Romans 5:12-21; Hebrew chet; Greek hamartia.
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Usage
"Without Adam's federal headship, you cannot have Christ's; original sin is the platform of the gospel."
"Modern theory treats children as blank slates; Scripture says they need a new birth, not just better parenting."
"Original sin is real, and so is the new birth."